Christian Living

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Larry Lilly's Letter Tuesday October 24, 2006

My letters last week and so far this week, have dealt with the complexities and beauty of true friendship. I even preached on the subject Sunday past as the theme for our service was friend day.

In the morning Email I received the following from a pastor friend of many years, and I knew the little fellow to whom he refers, so I suffer a little pain also:

"This will certainly be understood by you. I think the best friend is a dog, and believe it or not, I try to be a friend to others the way my dogs are a friend to me. I just lost my Yorkie on Saturday in a freak accident and this house is so empty you would not believe it, or I guess that you would as you have lost yours. Would it not be great if all of our "friends" loved us like our dogs."

I wrote back and assured this dear man that he is reaching his goal in that I think he has treated me like a dog for many years.

Strangely, I had picked a quote about animals for today's thought and it fits right in with my friend's offering:

"Animals are reliable, many full of love, true in their affections, predictable in their actions, grateful and loyal. Difficult standards for people to live up to."

Alfred A. Montapert.

I don't know who Alfred is either, but I sure agree with what he said, and you probably do too if you just think about it.

The point of the flurry of letters for the last several days is to encourage myself and hopefully you, to learn the art of being a true friend in accord with the biblical definition of the term.

The reason for this emphasis is simple in that if we learn this art, then we will not waste so much of our allotted time moaning over the fickleness of people we thought to be friends, but will take comfort from knowing that we are the right kind of friend.

I admit that now in my dotage, I regret not having been a better friend along the way. When I think of this I do not have time to suffer renewed grief over "all the people who have let me down." In practicing this exercise on maintaining sanity, I also reap an unexpected benefit; I realize that all of ones on whom I depended, when they let me down, their hurtful actions just drove closer me to the one who has never let me down, or any other friend. He always goes the ultimate distance and He has the scars to prove it.

Other than the love the Lord Jesus has for us, I think of my pastor friend's statement and I agree so I share it again with you:

"Would it not be great if all of our "friends" loved us like our dogs."

Larry Lilly Copyright © 2006 Use with credit.

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